Apologetics is for Everyone!

I can't remember the exact day I heard Ravi Zacharias' radio program "Just Thinking" for the first time. I do  remember, my first thought - "wow, we Christians have answers for those difficult questions" shortly followed by "and why has no one told me about this? " Me, a babe in the faith, hungry for knowledge: bought the books, downloaded the free, 13 and a half minute lecture clips, all 300 plus, and began to feast. In studying apologetics the bridge between my head and my heart was fortified. It supplemented the understanding of my hope, making me bold in communicating the source, reason, and exclusivity of that hope, found in the gospel and person of Jesus Christ.

What is Apologetics

If this is your first time hearing the word "Apologetics", it would serve you well to provide a definition at this point - John Frame (Apologetics to the Glory of God) defines Christian apologetics as such:

 

"Christian apologetics (which has nothing to do with "apologizing") seeks to serve God and the church by helping believers to carry out the mandate of 1 Peter 3:15-16. We may define it as the discipline that teaches Christians how to give a reason for their hope." 

 While the "reason" in 1 Peter 3:15 is translated ("apologia" in the Greek meaning "defense") there are typically three aspects of apologetics:

Apologetics as proof - presenting a rational basis for faith or "proving Christianity to be true". Believers themselves often times have questions and/or deal with doubt, and apologetics at this point is very useful in addition to it's role in dialogue with non-believers.

 

Apologetics as defense - answering the objections of unbelief. Much as Paul did in his epistles (Phil. 1:7; v. 16).

Apologetics as offense - attacking the foolishness of unbelieving thought. "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5

Apologetics in Church

 

Needless to say there are and will be, church folk that have never heard the word "apologetics" and what it means or looks like to be fleshed out; folks who have, and will be, called to glory, before they ever do. And that's ok. But there are others, like you reading this blog, who will learn of this spiritual discipline and not find it worthy of pursuit or have been convinced that it is outside your gifting (that is until you reach the end of this blog, I hope). This is due to a thinking, I've heard posited in church mainly, which results (though often times inadvertently) in a lukewarm response to apologetics. I've observed, that this marred or misconstrued view, is mainly to do with the compartmentalization of apologetics as a "high brow", intellectually lofty discipline. One reserved for the "big brained" and highly educated of our bunch and those who share their gifting and/or simply can comprehend their work. Brothers like Ravi Zacharias, Francis Schaeffer, Lee Strobel, C.S. Lewis, Norman Geisler, John Lennox, Frank Turek and many others. Though these men are commended, and valued, championed even, for being a Christian presence in the market place of thought, apologetics is viewed in the church as a rear gifting, resulting in it being widely marginalized. The consensus is that, apologetics is better suited, useful and needed in the classes of Seminaries or the halls of Christian opposed universities or forums of debate. And if introduced or taught in the church, it is preceded by caveats, which serve to counter or at the least stunt the effectiveness and subsequent adoption of apologetics as a spiritual command, which extends beyond those considered the "intellectual elite." 

To be fair, it can be easily inferred of apologetics as being intellectually segregated(ing), again, due to the way it is parceled and consumed. It's glamorized by the elaborate dialogues pertaining to worldviews, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds; by invoking at any time, ones knowledge of history, philosophy, sociology, science, pop-culture and the scriptures; pretty much everything. A sensitive juxtaposition, considering the varying educational levels of congregants that can exist in any one church. Then there are the possible spiritual pit falls, as scripture warns, concerning knowledge and pride and even harshness as Peter encourages "yet do it with gentleness and respect" (Prov. 1:7; 1 Cor. 8:1; Jm. 4:3 etc.). For apologetics is also painted with a reputation of transforming it's students into cerebral answering machines. Thus you will hear it said that  - "apologetics isn't for everyone" or "apologetics is good, but...." The caution is well intentioned, and even wise, but does it follow from an incomplete view of apologetics, it's use and it's biblical grounding?  What is seldom mentioned is that a lot of Christians are cerebral, harsh and impatient when sharing the gospel, irrespective of any apologetic training. So could we be "cutting off at the knees" a valuable tool that can equip Christians to fulfill not just the mandate of 1 Peter 3:15-16 but also Matthew 28:16-20?  How are we, to strike a balance? 

 
Apologetics In Full View (1 Peter 3:15-16 and Matthew 28:16-20)  
 

First let me say, that to give a "full view" would take me writing a book. And there are smarter men than me, who should write that book. I do hope to touch on a few things that may shed some positive light on how apologetics is viewed and how it can be applied. And in no way is any insight meant to "tar and feather" apologists for not plugging any holes in the definition and application of apologetics. Rather I hope to come alongside them to provide, what I hope, are answers to some of the misperceptions of apologetics.

 One of my heroes in the faith once said of apologetics:

"Apologetics is like cutting down the bushes of someones thoughts; so they are able to see the cross more clearly."   Ravi Zacharias 

I call this quote "the bridge between 1 Peter 3:15-16 and Matthew 28:16-20." A marriage of  imperatives; the logical conclusion to which apologetics is aimed, the communicating/preaching of the gospel. This union, seems to get lost amongst the big words; the philosophical posturing and scientific positing and rebutting, by the time it reaches our ears. Thus the minimizing, almost cavalier dismissal of apologetics in our churches, I feel exists because the friendship between apologetics and the gospel has been overlooked. God has ordained that souls will be brought into the kingdom through the preaching of the gospel (Romans 10:14-15). And every Christian is to replicate himself/herself in so doing, "making disciples". With the gospel, every Christian has the template needed to stamp out new Christians. To evangelize however, takes engaging people, as I said before, people of different "worldviews, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds." To engage people means that we not only preach; we talk to them. Yes, there is a difference. And for most Christians (on both sides of the educational spectrum) this reality is either not apparent or poorly executed, I can attest. Plainly put, a lot of Christians, do not know how to talk to people. This is where apologetics, finds its use. 

Firstly, studying apologetics: I've said "one way to express love for the pre-saved, is to (before you've even met that person) prepare as much as possible, to engage and answer their questions and concerns, by grounding yourselves in the your faith first, "but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy" (1 Peter 3:15) also (2 Tim. 2:15). Learn to read your bible properly, and read it faithfully, so as to not conform to the world. Be a member of a church community. Studying alone is fine, even commanded, (2 Tim:2-15) but it's the body of believers and the word that God will use to mold, and shape your thinking and methods, and most importantly watch over your soul. Study apologetics. Apologetics is for everyone because every Christian is to proclaim the gospel; equally 1 Peter 3:15-16 is written for all Christians. Then strategise how to engage those around you. Which leads to..... 

Secondly, conversational apologetics: Though very useful, apologetics does not only exist in the world of big words; or remembering particular dates in history; or being able to recall teachings of certain philosophers. Apologetics for the average Christian besides obtaining information, is learning methodology on how to properly and genuinely listen to someone, so as to apply, defuse, or defend against propositions with the truth of the scriptures. In apologetics the most difficult thing to learn is listening; and also admitting you don't know, when you don't know. Which harps more on spiritual maturity, than the gathering and spewing of information. Understanding that individuals you'll encounter are not conquests, but people with problems, hurts, concerns, questions. And a lot of times, they just need someone to listen and genuinely care for them and their situation. For the Christian the first and best defense mounted is the love produced by the gospel, expressed through the heart and hands.

Thirdly, apologetics and suffering: Put in it's context 1 Peter 3:15-16 follows, Peter's foretelling of the inevitability of suffering/persecution that is to be experienced by the Christian. Someone rightly said that the Christian is to develop a strong theology on suffering. Oddly, I've found that in most of my encounters, non-believers question 1) the validity and inerrancy of scripture and 2) the issue of pain, suffering and evil, as their most troubling of realities, when considering God. More than the questions on the "age of the universe" or "evolution" or if "Adam had a belly button?" The thing that we should be experts on, is what most people need explained to them. You can always point them in the right direction, for the things you don't know.
 

I thank God for that day, whenever it was, that I was driving from work and heard that confident Indian accent on my car radio; espousing all those truths about Jesus. It changed my life!

Here are some of my favorite titles:  

Apologetics to the Glory of God - John Frame
When Skeptics Ask - Norman Geisler & Ronald Brooks
*If You  Could Ask God One Question - Paul Williams & Barry Cooper
The Case for Christ Series  - Lee Strobel
More Than a Carpenter - Josh McDowell

Everything written by C.S. Lewis; my favorites so far being:

Mere Christianity
Screw Tape Letters
The Abolition of Man
The Problem of Pain

Everything written by Ravi Zacharias; my favorites so far being:

The Great Conversations (Series)
The End of Reason
Jesus Among Other Gods